The Anatomy Of Car Theft In Australia.

Statistics tell you how many cars get stolen in Australia. They rarely tell you about the nuance – e.g., who does the stealing, why they do it, and at what time of the day.

A Gateway Crime

Research from the Australian Institute of Criminology consistently finds that car theft in adolescence predicts a lifetime of crime. It’s an on-ramp – not a destination.

Young Repeat Offenders

Statistics show that a small number of repeat juvenile offenders commit most of the vehicle theft in Australia. The number of single-time offenders is very low.

Flexing To Peers

For young offenders, a stolen car is a badge of honour. It’s a mark of status that they’re proud of – not at all a socially stigmatised asset derived from crime.

Car Theft Is A Young Man’s Game.

The cliché of a scary old man stealing your car is largely a myth. Of the 3224 people NSW prosecuted for motor vehicle theft in the last 12 months, nearly half were juveniles. And the trend is accelerating – over the past decade, the number of under-18 offenders in NSW increased at exactly 2X the rate of adults.

Most car thieves get away with their crimes.

Victorian police report that roughly three in four motor vehicle theft offences are unsolved. The low rate of success helps explain why the crime is on the rise. Unfortunately, the government has been unable to provide sufficient deterrents.

What is the real cost of vehicle-related crime to Australians?

~$1B/yr

The AIC’s long-standing, conservative total figure that estimates car theft’s total annual cost. It includes direct losses plus the cost of public services (e.g., policing, courts, victim inconvenience and flow-on insurance costs).

~3,000

The number of vehicles that get “rebirthed” annually. These cars have their serial numbers removed from their engine and chassis before they get given a new identity. This is why you must always check the car’s VIN number history prior to purchase.

1 day

A victim of car theft loses at least one full working day dealing with the aftermath of the crime. This “productivity tax” includes time spent on providing police statements and submitting an insurance claim.

20,000+

Number of cars that police never find, annually. About 40% of these cars get shipped overseas by international crime syndicates. The other 60% get stripped for parts by local Australian petty thieves and motorcycle gangs.


The long-standing industry benchmark from the Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) estimates the total cost of vehicle crime at around a billion dollars a year.

Your Car Is Most Likely To Be Stolen While You’re Asleep.

If you’re like most people, you worry about having your car stolen during daylight hours, from your local shopping centre. The data paints a different picture – your car is most vulnerable on a weekday, during the evening/nighttime hours.

  • NSW: Thieves are most active during the working week, in the evenings.
  • QLD: Consistent with the state’s laconic culture, thieves are most likely to steal your car on the weekend. Saturday evening, 8pm to 11:59pm is their most frequently used window of opportunity.

You’re 4X More Likely To Have Your Car Raided Than Stolen.

The most common form of vehicle-related crime is theft from a motor vehicle – not theft of your motor vehicle itself. According to the ABS, 2.2% of Australian households had property stolen from their vehicles. This contrasts sharply with 0.6% who had their vehicle itself stolen. Most (68%) of raids happen while the vehicle is parked at home.

Where Did We Obtain These Numbers From?

  • NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research / NSW Police (via CarsGuide).
  • NSW Police data (via Pinkerton analysis).
  • Victoria Police.
  • ABS Crime Victimisation Survey 2024–25.
  • Crime Statistics Agency Victoria.
  • Australian Institute of Criminology.
  • Budget Direct analysis of national crime data.
  • NSW Parliament, written-off vehicle register second reading material.